The Georgia guardsman [Vol. 3, no. 8 (Nov. 1953)]

GEORGIA'S JET-EQUIPPED AIR GUARD SQUADRONS
MIGHTY AIR ARM OF 116TH FIGHTER BOMBER WING

TilE
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S
MESSAGE
Fellow Guardsmen:
Armory construction for units needing new facilities is now a possibility for those commanders who secure the help of their local governments.
The National Guard Bureau has announced that Iimited funds are now available for armory construction for those units obtaining 25% of the total cost of construction from local funds. Since State funds for such construction have been exhausted, city and county governments should be consulted in an effort to obtain local funds. We, at State level, feel that this is an excellent opportunity for improvement of local communities through the construction of an impressive building which can be utilized for numerous civic functions in addition to giving adequate facilities for the unit.
One-unit armories can be constructed for approximately $110,000. Therefore, no more than $30,000 of local funds would be required for financing.
Our office wi II do everything within its power to secure the federal aid once local funds are secured and to furnish other required assistance. Funds will be requested on a first come, first served basis; therefore, it is urgent for unit commanders to take immediate action if they desire a new armory.

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

THE GEORGIA GUARDSmAn

ov. 1953

No. 8

A publ icati on of the Deportment

f Defense, Mi litary Division,
~tate of Georgia. Published in the

". terest
Guard

of and

thde1. stGr1.ebourtgeida

Notional free to

members of the Notional Guard

of Georgia. The .Guardsman

receive s A F PS mat enol. AF PS

rnoteriol appearing herein cannot

be repr inte d without written per-

mission of Armed Forces Press

Service, 641 Washington Street,

!'lew Yor k 14, N.Y.

,,
\
~~', . /'

LT. COL. HOM.ER FLYNN
Ma naging DZ:rector

CAPT . DOUGLAS EMBRY Editor
Publica tion and Editorial Off ice 959 E. Confederate Ave ., S. E.
Atlanta, Georgia
* *

THE STAFF of the Selective Section of State Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Georgia Notional Guard, works out an administrptive problem at Camp Stewart, where they were on two weeks active duty with the 108th AAA Brigade. The Georgia section met with others from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and performed mock duties in the event of a fullscale mobilization and selective service operations. In the group are, left to right, Colonel Ralph l\'1oor, Colonel Ben T. Huiet, State Commissioner of of Labor and Commander of the unit, Major William J. Hatcher of Decatur,
and Lt. Col Jack Murr, State Legislator of Americus,

Honorable He rman E . Ta lmadge
Governor of Georgia

Col Steve White Conducts Last PIO Meet

A P.I.O. conference m the

Major Jim Connor, new Informa-

\1ajor General Ernest Vandive r
The Adjutant General

Pentagon on October 30th revealed tha t the National Guard's strength has risen from 208,000 in

tion Office Chief, was introduced by Col. White, who will come to Ft. Benning before his overseas

* * *
The opwwns expressed tn The Georgia Guardsman are those of the Sta ff Writers of the publication and membe rs of the Georgia Na tional Guard and do not r,ecess arily refle ct any official views of the Adjutant Ge neral's Department of Georgia.

1952 to 265,000 in 1953. New recruiting material, new ideas and present problems were discussed with NGI3 officials.
Lt. Col. Steve White, concluding
his tour of duty as Bureau P .1.0.,
said there would be a re-issue of some of last year's recruiting material and some new additions. Delivery of this material has already begun, and units may expect to begin rece1vmg their distribution in January.

assignment begins. We in the Georgia Public Information Office wish to thank Col. White for his ge nerous cooperation and for the excellent performance of his job in promoting the National Guard. We wish him well wherever he may serve and look forward to his return to the National Guard in the future. We also extend our congratulations to Major Connor, and look forward to working with
him.
Attending the Washington con-

OUR COVER ..

ference from Ge agia were Lt. Col. Homer Flynn, Lt. Col. Al-

F~b84binTstiUANirDEFRoJrcEeTSBaosfe,theMaGrieeottrag,ia

Air where

National Guard these aircraft

take to the of the 128th

air over Fighter

1~embaerlry

Wing, ore Aug ust ;

based. Conversion from F-51's to F-84's now the 12Cth has 20 of the sleek jets.

began This

taking place flight is led

C Lt. Col. Joel B. Paris, Squadron Commander. Others in the formation are

ol, Philip A. Sykes, Senior Air Instructor, Capt Glenn Herd, Operations Of-

ficer, and Copt. C. J. Perkins, C.O., 116th Installations Squadron.

bert J, Twiggs, Major Robert T. Baird, Major Grady P. Hext, Major Clarence Wickersham, Captain Douglas Embry, Capt. Arthur Patton, M/Sgt Ed Friend and M/Sgt Benjamin McLemore.

OVE MSER, 1953

THE .GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

GRIZZARD WRITES MESSAGE ON ASSN. CONF

The Georgia Guardsman has kindly consented to make available each

month to The National Guard Association of Georgia this space in order

that the membership of the Association may be kept abreast of the

happenings and doings of not only our State Association but the Na-

tional Assocoiation as well. On behalf of our ' Association, I would like

to express our thanks.

As you know the 75th General

Conference. of the National Asso-

ciation wa's 'held in San Diego,

California', October 19th to 22nd.

Some 28 members of the Georgia

National Guard attended, with 17

accredited delegates.

The conference had brought be-

fore it matters and problems of

far-reaching importance to the

National Guard. The manner in

which these problems are resolved

will be felt in the Guard Program

for many, many years to come.

The main thread or subject run-

ning through the entire conference

was that of MAN POWE R, or better

still, the lack of it. Three speak-

Col. fames C. Grizzard

ers appeared .before the conference

who delivered excellent addresses serious problems as to how these

on this subject: Or. John A. Han- plans could be administered. All

nah, Defense Manpower Chief; Guardsmen can be assured that

Brig. General Louis A. Renfrow, the Officers o.f the National As-

Deputy Director of Selective Ser- sociation are following these de-

vice; and Major George Fielding velopments closely , and at the

Eliot, Military analyst and writer. proper time our position will be

It would be impossible in this made known to the Congress .

limited space to go into a de-

At our state conference in Ma-

tailed discussion of what they con in September, two resolutions

had to say. However, one of the were adopted and directed to the

results of putting into effect their National Association. One of

ideas would be to do away with these resolutions concerned the

the status of the National Guard time in grade requirements for

as a volunteer organization and promotion of Air National Guard

provide for the drafting of men Officers. Prior to the time of the

into the Guard. Another result National Conference these time in

would be to severely - restrict, if grade requirements were relaxed,

not entirely eliminate, the Nation- and for that reason this resolution

al Guard from its present role as was withdrawn at the conference.

a basic training organization. This The other resolution concerned

would come about by restricting the limitation on the number of

the enrollment in the Guard to enlisted men in the Army Nation-

persons who had had a period of al Guard who could take their

active duty training.

automobiles to field training. This

It is obvious to any one famil- resolution came before the con-

iar with the Guard program that ference and was unanimously adop-

these proposals can have the ted. During the discussion of

most far-reaching effect on the this resolution Maj. General Mil-

future mission and organization of ton A. Reckord stated that in his

the Guard, in addition to raising opinion this regulation of the

National id and

Guard that as

BuArdejauutanwtasGeinnve~1).

oref futshee~

State of Mary la to follow it.

nd, he I have

hn~d

the slightest doubt that prior t

next year ' s summer tram. m g thi10

re gulation leave the

will matter

be amende d entirely in

tt~

hands of the State Adj utant Geq.

eral.

Also, it was voted at the

c onvention to provide for the llc

quisition of a permane nt home rex-

the National Guard Associa tion

Ul Washington. Over $75 ,000.()()

was subscribed for this project

at the convention. At a later

time more information conc erning

this will be forthcomi ng.

In all, it was a most success

ful conference. Anyone who at

tended could not he lp bei ng

impressed with the businesslike

manner with which it was conduc-

ted, and to feel that the affairs

of our National Association are

irt excellent hands.

JAMES C. GRIZ ZARD Colonel, Ga ANG President, National Guard Association of Ge orgia

Encampment Dates
Set For Division,
108 AAA Brigade
Summer encampment date s for
the Army uni ts of the Georgia Na
tional Guard have been s et for 1954. The 48th Infantry Division will train at Ft. McClellan, Ala. ,
13 -- 27 June. The ZO Bih AA A
Brigade will maneuver at Camp Stewart, Ga., 25 July- 8 A ugust. The 201st Ordnance will also go to Camp Stewart. A lthough it is not official at this time, it is
contemplated that State Hq & Hq
Detachment will also go to Stewart.

2

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

THE UPSON G,UA RDS of Thomaston' s Co K, l22nd In[ Regt, have an honorary company commander-Capt. lame~ R. Atwater, lege ndary Guardsman and bene[act.or ?.f ,, the unit. At left, Col. Roy Norve ll, regimental commander, presents Capt. Atwater with a helmt;t liner. IT] ,the c,enter, Capt. ] eff Slade plac es

the helmet on Capt. Atwater while his wife looks on. Lt. Birdsong, at mike, records event for statinn WSFT. At right, Sgt. Clarence Millen receives the "Leon Mc Neely" award (Gruen wrist watch) as the outstanding man of Co. K. (Mr. McNeely is an officer in Atlanta' s Co A, I22nd.)

UPSON .GUARDS NAME CAPT ATWATER HONORARY C.O.

Guardsmen of the Upson Guards,

Company K, 122d and their wives

were enterta.ined with a ba rbecue

chicken dinn~r ;md dance by Cap-

aoo Mrs. James R. Atwa ter of

Thomaston. :;rrhe Atwaters gave

their party at the Veterans' Club-

house.



On ha nd for the occa s ion were Colo~el Rpy ~.' , J'lorve ll, Comma n-

ding Officer of the 122d Infantry,

Major Leo Supivan, Regula r Army Advi~or for the 2nd., Major Te rry Fields, lie gular Ariny Ad~ isor for

the 3rd Batta lip n, C ouncilman P~!e Vining for t he City of Thom-

aston; Cha irman 'of the Board of
th~ Up_~~n c ~~!ltY C omm i~s i oners'

Hays Arnold, and Lt. Col. Herbert

D. Morgan, Chaplain for the State

of Georgia.

Highlight of t he evening 's pro-

gram was the a warding of the

Leon McNeely Award for the most

OUtStanding inan of the c ompa ny

for :the past, year. Lt. McNeely

awarded a s e lf-winding, ' a ll gold

Gruen watch to Sgt. Clarence Mil-

len who had been selected by a

committee of first three graders
and officers 'of- the company as

the 'most outstanding man of the

company for 1953.

Special letters of commendation to Sgt. Alton Hoga n, Sgt Shelley C. James, Sgt Russell D. Oglesbee, Pfc William Allen, Pvt Eugene Cochran, Pfc Douglas Isbell, and Pfc Charles Buchanan were presented by C ouncilman Pete Vining for their help in parking automobiles at the local football games. Mr. Vining, acting for the Mayor of T homaston, Marvin Adams thanked the men for their volunteer services a nd praised the outstanding leadership and training of the National Guard.
Captain J ame s R. Atwater was honored by being selected by the nien of the company as an honorary Company Commander of the Upson Guards. A helmet liner bearing Captain's bars was presented to the Captain by Jeff Slade, Commander of the Upson Guards. Captain Atwater organized the first National Guard Company of Thomaston near the turn of the century and rose to the rank of Colonel as the States' Quartermaster. In a ddition to his wock with the National Guard, Capt. Atwater was a ctive in getting an ROTC Unit for the local high school, Robert E. Lee Institute.

Colonel Roy Norvell, in addressing the company praised the 3rd Battal ion, commanded by Lt. C. J . Teague of Milledgeville, for havi.ng each company receive supe rior rat ings for their work at the summer encampment at Fort McClellan in 1953. He was highly complimentary of K Company for their enthusiasm and training.
DUM DE DUM DUM
HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY, Ft. McPherson, Ga., Nov. 10 -Lt. Gen. A. R. Bolling, Third Army Commanding General, has announced that dignitaries from throughout the state and nation, as well as many high ranking military figures, have been invited to attend the formal cornerstone laying ceremonies at the new Woman's Army Corps Center at Fort McClellan, Alabama, on November 16.
The new WAC Center will house and train all women from throughout the nation who enter the Army.
Full scale operation of the Center is expected to get underway early next year.

N0VEivi BER, 1953

3

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN ------------------------~-----------------------------------------
2 UNITS GET M-41 TANKS

ACCEPTANCE check is give n a New M-4 1 by 20lst Ord Co

News from San Diego

NGA WORTH $420,000 -WALSH

SAN DAEGO -- The 75th "Diamond Jubilee" conference of the

National Guard Association of the United States resulted in many pre-

dictions about the future of the National Guard. Out of the San Diego

meeting which ended Oct 22nd came the statement from Maj. Gen.

E. A. Walsh, Association President, that its ''founders huilded far

more mightily than they ever dreamed."

Commenting that the Army and

While renewing its plea for a

Air National Guard "constitutes universal military training and

an empire within an empire," he service program, the NGA reaf-

added that the association has firmed its opposition to any sys-

hecome a potent force in devel- tern forcing service in the reserve

oping and influencing military pol- components on veterans, qualifying

icy. Within the last ten years this procedure as "unjust and

" the organization has developed undemocratic."

a Washington headquarters in

At the same time the associa-

keeping with its dignity and pres- tion suggested that UMT would

tige, and its net worth has m- he unjustified without a period of

creased from zero dollars m service thereafter. "Service in the

1943 to more than $420,000 m armed forces of the United States

1953."

or the Reserve components was

Gen. Walsh paid tribute to the urged, sifting numbers of men into

founders of the association and active and reserve components

their successors and indicated sufficiently to maintain their es-

his belief the NGA is on the se ntial strength."

threshold of owning its own

The assoc1at10n recognized,

building in Washington. He called however, the "inestimable value"

for more active support of the of veterans and urged that in-

association's magazine "The Na- centives he offered in an effort

tiona! Guardsman," and further to enlist them in the guard.

cited the splendid relations the

Guard and the NGA enjoys with

The Air Advisory Committee of

the regular components and the the association recommended that

Congress of the United States.

the National Guard Bureau procure

Two of the new M-41 E2 WaJ. ker Bulldog light tanks have been received by the 20lst Ordnance Company for delivery to the two units of the Georgia National Guard which are to receive a total of five.
LaGrange's 48th Div Reconnaissance Company will rece ive four and one will go to the Reconnaissance Platoon of the l90th Tank Battalion at Eatonton.
The M-41 is the same type now being delivered to a ctive Army units and will replace the National Guard's M-24 World War 11 tanks. The M-4ls are equipped with 76 mm guns as compared with the 75mm guns on the M-24.
Major Ralph Brown of the 20lst said the remainder of the M-4ls are scheduled to he delivered before the end of November. Georgia is one of 32 state.s receiving these new tanks.
Several National Guard units in Georgia already are equipped with medium tanks. They include units at Forsyth, Americus, Marie tta, l3ainhridge, Fitzgerald and Eastman.
its own aircraft for the Air Guard. Chairman Brig; Gen . Chester A. Charles, N. J., said the Air Guard has a serious shortage of planes, and the ones it has are obsolete."
At the same time, Gen. Charles asked that additional tactical units be allocated to the Air Guard.
Major General George G. Finch of Atlanta was named to the a tional Guard Association's executive council for a three-year term. General Finch is now De puty Commander Continental Air Command for the National Guard and
was a recent member of the U.N.
truce team in Korea. Gen. Finch will represe nt the
14th Air Force district. He was elected at the close of the as sociation's annual convention at San Diego, Calif.

4

NOVEMBE R, 1953

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

NATIONAL GUARD DISPLAYS at the Southeastern Fair- AGonzo in Atlanta in early October brought many favorable commen ts. The attractive displays were viewed by many thousands of people, among them Governor Talmadge who closely scrutini zed the Guardsmen's handiwork. The 116th fighte r Bomber Wing's booth featured a Iorge pointing of

on F-84, drown by Sgt Driggers, and the cut-away jet engine. The 878 Engr Avn Co hod on interesting array of photos depicting the activities of the Georgia Guardsmen at field training, on disaster relief, low enforcement and
fire fighting.

COL WILL'IAMS, SEN. ARMY ADVISOR, REPORTS

In the two months since my reporting for duty as Senior Army Advisor, I have had the pleasure of mee ting quite a number of personnel of the Georgia National Guard. The fact that the Inspector General was conducting the annual armory ins pection for most units during the month of September and assemblies were conducted on other than normal drill nights made it possible for me to reach more units than could normally have been visited in this period. Of course all units could not be visited. I am now in the process of visiting all units. Most of these visits will be of ne cess ity during daylight hours and I will not be able to see anyone outside the unit administrator. However, as soon as possible I hope to have the pleasure of visiting all units during armory drill periods.
During my visits to units at ~e time of the Inspector General's Inspection, I was frankly surprised atbotthe generally good conditi on of
h training and maintenance. Although I could not personally compare this with last year, the seneral remarks of the various In-

Col Robert L. Williams
s pectors who were inspecting for their second year indicated a general improvement.
The scheduling of the Inspector General shortly after summer camp seemed to have been generally well received. It certainly cut out any tendency to procrastinate on the performing of after-camp maintenance. It will also reduce the number of hours required for mainte nance.
On my visits to units it was generally found that the strong rooms were damp. Some attempts

had been made to remedy this by leaving a light burning at all times. This light was as a rule in the ceiling. I have found, in the tropics, and the humidity conditions along the coast are very similar, that it was necessary to place heating elements in rooms where arms, leather, instruments, etc were stored. The heaters can be either regular heating elements or light bulbs - but they must be placed near the floor to do any good. Heat near the ceiling does not result in the necessary circulation. If the proper heat can be obtained in the strong room the amount of oil on metal objects can be reduced and man hours spent in maintenance may also be reduced.
LT REID GETS BARS
Lt. David A. Reid, Jr., Co D, 560th Engr Bn (C), has received his commission as a result of his attendance at the National Guard OCS at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Due to an error of ommission, his name did not appear in last month's magazine story concerning the other graduates.

NOVEMBER, 1953

s

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN--------------------------------------------------------------------
/(ounJup

THOUSANDS OF GUARDSMEN from Georgia and Flor ida pass in review be fore Governor Talmadge, General Vandiver, General Fraser, and Florida of ficials on Governor's Day at Ft. McClellan, Ala., where the 48th Infantry Division reached its maximum of effectiveness during two weeks summer maneuvers. It was Governor Talmadge's fifth consecutive visit with our units.

CAPT . JACK WILLIAMS' Guar dsmen of Co E, 121 st lnf Regt, Va ldosta pose in the ir company area at Ft: McClellan during their annual sum. mer encampmen t. We don 't know their names but hope they recognlu themselve s from th is reproduction the submitted snapshot.

FIGHTER PILOTS c;f the 128th Fighter Squadron, Ga ANG, check a map of their gunnery range over the Atlantic during a briefing at Travis Field. At the top, left to right, are Lt. Som Dixon, Lt. Wynne Daughters and Lt. Cl ar ence Ricks. The others are Capt. John Hayes, Lt. Bi II Compton, Capt. Idon Hodge, Capt. Charles Allen, Lt. Bill Tennent, Lt. Col. Bill Par is (Sqdn Com
mander) and Capt. Glenn Herd.
6

AN AIR HAMMER of

Co C, 560th Engineers,

spike into

of the

bers used

this bridge at

Rodney E. Jordan, left,

hammering while M/ Sgt S.

steadies the timber. Lt. J.

Cheney, center, checks the work

NOVEMBER, 1953

-------------------------------------------------------------------THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

MAJOR GE NER AL ERNEST VANDIVER, left, visits the Albany Guard un it on bivouac in the hills above Ft. McCle llan , where Co L, 121st lnf Regt, was on annual summe r maneuvers. In the group ore, left to rig ht, Gen. Van d iver, Col. Roy Hogan, regimental comma nder of Macon, First Sergeant Cecil P itts, Albany, Lt. Col. Th omas Nesbitt, Cordele, and lst Lt. W. L .
Burch, Al bany. (Photo by SFC John Wangle)

THE S:llth AF BAND of the Air Guard gets in a practice session at Travis Field while on summer maneuvers. Led by Warrant Officer John Love, these musicians ore rounding into good shape for future performances in parades, welcoming dignotories and other official ceremonies.
Keep Your Guard Up

( : HELP BUILD YOUR UNIT UP TO FULL STRENGTH.

AUGUSTA RECRUITS of the 250th AAA Bn, 108th Brigade, study a dummy carbine rifle used for their recruit training classes at Camp Stewart. Pointing out the breeeh mechanism
i s SFC John Tinsley, right. Receiving the instructions are, left to right, Pvt Nathan W. Sojorner, Pvt Daniel E. Wright, Pvt Marion E. Morris, Pfc Edward Oellerich and Pfc Clyde J. Netherland. At right Governor Talmadge is greeted by Brig Gen George Hearn.
CG, 108th Brigade, in front of the special jeep he had painted With white wall tires in the Governor's honor. Maj Gen Ernest Vandiver, right, AG of Georgia looks on.

NOVEMBER, 1953

7

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Co A, 122nd In
Strength Surges
An amazing jump m strength has brought Co A, 122nd Infantry Regt, Atlanta , fro m 5 2 EM in April to a prese nt total of 117 EM. Capt. Lloyd C. Johnson's unit achieved this great increase through intens ive recruiting efforts and the formati on of a platoon in Decatur. Ca pt. Johnson predicts that his unit will go to camp in 1954 wit h a full complement of 165 EM.
Other news from Co A is as follows:
Eightee n en lis ted men are now engage d in Army Exte nsion Subcourses, Serie s 10. Cpl Marvin H. Lamb is presently attending the In Basic Non-Com Off Course at Benning. Lt. William N. Edwards, 1r is scheduled to begin the 1 Asso CO OFF Course at Benni ng on 18 Nov. Lt. James M. Speer has also applied for this course . SFC Way ne E. Nations has app lied for the In Adv Non-Com Off Course at Benning to begin in early January.

Macon's 202nd C-M Sq Has First Insp.

The officers and men of the 202d Communications-Maintenance Squadron, Macon's only Air National Guard Unit, underwent Federal inspection at the unit's headquarters at Cochran Field. Sunday drill session found nearly 100% in attendance.
This was the first annual federal inspection for the 202d. The unit was activated m the Fall of 1952.
Heading the te am of 14th AF inspectors were Major Claude H. Cummings, Jr. and Major Roy C. Rowland.
In addition to the inspecting officers, severa l visitors from other Georgia Air National Guard units were present. The guest list was headed by Colonel Philip A. Sykes, Senior Air Instructor of the Georgia Air National Guard.
The inspecting officers checked the 202d on several phases of operation. Some of the inspectors visited in classes, while others inspected the administrative and supply aspects of the unit.
Inspection day classes were AC

Fundamentals, instructed by ~ /Sgt. Harold Probert, and DC F undamentals, instructed by S / Sgt. \Vi). liam A. Grochenour. In add ition the automotive section wen; through their on-the-job training under the supervision of S/Sgt.
Dalla s 0 . Parta in, section leader.
In addition to the Federal Inspection duties, the supply section, he aded by T / Sgt. Wallace Harris , issued winter blue uni forms to the airmen of the 202d.
During the course of t he all day drill session, 5 applicants were being processed for en listment in the unit. Two of the app licants , Nathan A. Ward, Jr., and George H. Lavender, signed e nlistment papers.
Ma jor Ge orge Smith, Commanding Officer of the 202d, said "I am very proud of my men of the 202d. T hey have worked hard fr om the very beginning, and have grown with the unit. I'm s ure their sh owing he re today has impres sed the inspe cting officers. "

BEST DRESSED soldier of the 560th Engr Bn in Columbus was found to be First Sergeant George P. Aster, Hq & Svc Co, who is shown being congrot uloted by Lt. Pau l F. Morrison, his CO, at right. The occasion was their recent annual a rmory inspection. The award is witnessed by Major James Crimmins, Thi rd Army IG, and Lt. Col. Ernest Higgins, Battalion Commander.
(Photo by SFC John Wangle)
8

Major ]essie M. Ree v es
New NG Administrato r
Major Jessie M. Reeves, Hq, Hq & Svc Co, 190th Tank Bn, has bee n appointed Administrativ e Ass istant , Georgia National Guard. Major Reeves will work with the U.S.P. & D.O. and will he in charge of administration for a ll civilian employees.
NOVEMBER, 1953

T,HE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN

Ga.;Officer M'ade Lone Attack 50 Miles~, Behind Enemy Lines

Fifty miles . behind the German ;Jine's, a Georgia officer with 30 volunteers approached the F rench town of Chateau Villian in September 1944.
The officer, Major Garland T. Byrd of Butler, had been informed bv Intelligence that the 6,000 Germans in th~ village would surrender

Armed with two half-tracks,

three jeeps with mounted ma-

chine guns and two mobile 105

Howitzers, Major Byrd's column

was pulling into the outskirts of

the town when his jeep was
hit by the sudden burst of a 40

mm cannon, knocking the vehiCle

out and wounding his driver The

projectile had passed between

Byrd's legs without touching

him. Without warning the other

vehicles were shelled untll

every unit was on fire. Observ-

ing the .11ban,donment of the vehicles and weapons; a liaison aircraft circli~g'. above returned

to allied lines imd reported the

missic;m l~st. ,



Under these tragic circumstan-

ces, .Major Byrd proceeded to

attack Chateau Villian and win

the Silver Star -- second high-

est medal to be awarded for

heroism in combat warfare.

Major Byrd is a hefty 200-

pounder on duty with the Geor-

gia National Guard's State Head-

quarters Detachment at Camp

Stewart June 14 through 28. .In

civilian life he 1s a Taylor

County attorney. By being a

member of . . the Georgia National

Guard and ,continuing to serve

his country, he forfeits a montply ~isability pension.
With an innocent manner he

related the details of his daring mission.

In the face of . enemy fire, Byrd deployed h~s men to the

left and right of the. road lead-

hig into . the town. The iring

stopped. All .was quiet. Still believing th~t his inform-

mation was correct and the .enemy W~\lld . surrender, he de-

cided on a bold move . . Crawling_

..through dense undergrowth, Byrd, accompanied by his interpreter, edged his way to a branch, yards from a German sentry. At this point he tied a white handkerchief, to the - bayonet and waved :it at the enemy.
Through his interpreter he informed the sentry ' and other Germans who began to gather that he had come for their surrender. To prove his peaceful intentions he then threw his M-1 rifle m the bushes. Shortly ''three to four hundred lined up, but one of the men went berserk' ~ and started firing wildly at Byrd.
Had it not been for . that incident Major Byrd may have made history. by capturing 6,000 prisoniers single . handedly. However, this unforsee-n event precipitated bedlam.
Byrd dove :for his discarded rifle and quickly emptied three .clips of twenty-four rounds into the group.
Sixteen fell dead. Hastily getting his platoon together, Major Byrd's men withdrew into a neighboring town where they were ,joined by the Free French underground forces. The :next day a relief column came through -and picked up Byrd's platoon. Together they occupied the town of . Chateau Villian which had been abandoned by the Germans during the night. Besid~s the 16 dead, over .. fift y casualties were left behind by the . Ger~ans: None' were ' kifled ,and only . twelve wounded m Major Byrd's platoon of the ,163rd Engineei: Gompa~ . Battalion attached to the l06th Calvary. for . his one-man onslaught

NOVEMBER, 1953

I
=:-/~ a;..... ._,~< _;J
IT DOES N'T SH OW on th e shirts of these two Georgi a Notional Gua rdsmen on two we e ks octive duty at Comp Stewart, but th ey ore the posse ssors of the coveted Silver Star Medal. Major Gorlo nd T. By rd, State Headquarters, le ft, won the decoration in Europe i n 19 44 as did Ca ptain T hom as J. Gwi n, ri ght, Hq 250th A.AA Gun Battal io n, Augu sto . 1.\ojor Byrd
is from But ler, Go.

Culinary Guardsmen
Attend 3A School
Six Georgia Guardsmen interested in nolirishment for their fe llow Guardsmen as well as for themselves are attending the Co ok ing Course, Third Army Area Svc Sch at Ft. Benning. T he course, to last 8 weeks , began 28 Aug 53.
The six are SFC Elmer Gr iffin Hq C o, 12lst In, Macon; SFC Alvin M. Patton, Sgt De nnis T homas , Cpl Van E. Lomax , Jr. a nd P fc Dillie J, Tomlin, a ll of Co L , 122nd In, Gainesv ille ; and Cpl Wilburn M. Cain, Co G, 12 2nd In, Canton.

into the nest of the enemy 50

miles behind the lines, Major

Byrd re ceived the Silver Star

with a further citation for val-

uable re ports he was able to

furnish Intelligence about e ne my

concentrations. In another reck-

less encounter Major Byrd won

the Bronze Star

but t hat's

another story.

9

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMA.\1

HISTORIC BLUE BONNET REGIMENT RECALLS HERITAGE AND TRADITION

The valiant history of the l2lst Infantry Regiment has been recorded in

the annals of our State since the unit's inception in the early 1800's.

In a letter published by Captain Ben L. Kersey, Adjutant of the Regiment,

the historic data of the l2lst was set forth in brief form in order to instill

in the members of that command "the heritage and tradition" that is their

responsibility to uphold and carry forward.

The Constitution established the

Independent Volunteer Battalion of

Macon, 20 December 1860, to con

tain all Volunteer Militia companies

in that city including the Macon

Volunteers (1825) and the Floyd

Rifles (1841).

The history of the regiment as a

group of individual militia units

dates hack to 20 April 1861 when

it was reorganized as the 2nd

Battalion, Georgia Infantry, and

went into Confederate Service with

Columbus' City Light Guards, the

Macon Volunteers and t<'loyd Rifles,

also of Macon, and the Spalding Greys of Griffin. They surrendered at Appomattox 9 April 1865.
Reorganized as the 2nd Battalion, Georgia Volunteers, 15 June 1874, the regiment picked up volunteer units from Milledgeville (Baldwin Blues) and Eatonton (Putnam Rifles). Until the regiment went into federal service during the Mexican War in 1916, the designations changed to include militia units from other cities throughout the area and as far east as Brunswick and as far west as Colu:nbus.
The units were mustered into federal service in May 1898 for the Spanish-American War but did not serve outside the United States. The Georgia Volunteers were designated National Guard of Georgia 1 October 1905. In July 1916 they were mustered into federal service

COLONEL ROY W. HOGAN Commanding Officer
121 st Infantry Regiment
federal service 16 September 1940. In November 1941 the 12lst was
reassigned to the 8th Division and became motorized in February 1942. It was redesignated a Combat Regiment in May 1944. The 12lst was relieved from assignment to the 8th Division 5 July 1946 and concurrently assigned to the 48th Infantry Division.
Taking part in the major engagements of the War Between the States and World Wars I and II, the 12lst garnered many awards and decorations. From Fredricksburg to St. Mihiel to Normandy, legions of those valiant volunteers have added to the glory of Georgia's military establishments.

for the Mexican War and returned to the State 27 March 1917.

* * * * *

The unit was first designated 121ST INFANTRY TROPHY

l2lst Infantry Regiment with the WINNERS- The small-bore Rifle

31st Infantry Division l October team of the 12lst Infantry won the

1917. Shortly afterward, the desig- Chief of the NGB's Trophy in the

nations changed to l5lst Machine 1953 competition with the' score of

Gun Bn to 2nd Bn, lst In, to 122nd 1406. This is a remarkable showing

Infantry Regiment (1922) to l2lst that reflects with credit the atten-

In Regt, 30th In Div, in 1924.

tion to duty, and the efforts of each

The 12lst was inducted into individual member of the team. The

10

GA. NG ASSN NAMES COMMITTEE HEADS

Committee Chairmen of the Na-

tional Guard Association of Geor-

gia have been announced by

Capt. Ben L. Kersey, Jr., Sec-

retary-Treasurer.

They are as follows:

Membership - Col. B. F. Merritt

Legislative - Col. Roy LeCraw

Finance - Brig. Gen. Patrick E.

Seawright

Public Relaticas - Lt. Col. Ho-

mer Flynn

By-Laws

Lt. Col. John M.

Hancock, Jr.

Time and Place - Col. Roy Nor-

vell

Resolutions - CoJ. Charles L.

Davis

Armory Authority - Maj. Gen. Jo-

seph B. Fraser

Military Code - Brig. Gen. George
J. Hearn

These committees will meet at

the call of the chairman to con-

sider recommendations and to

submit any desired resolutions at

the annual meeting in September

i%4.

team was composed of five members of Hq and Hq Company, 12lst Infantry, Macon, Georgia.
The team members and the score of each were: Watts (290), Griffin (286), Davenport (283), Leverett (275) and Thurston (272). We commend these men for their pioneer efforts in reviving interest, among the units of the Georgia National Guard, in marksmanship training~ The sponsorship of the Opera,tioriS Section, 48th Infantry Division has,, in a large measure, contributed to the success of the competiti~ns scheduled in 1953.
NOVEMBER, 1953

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN
NEWS. FROM ARMED FORCES PRESS SERVICE

National Guard Needs 1000 Pilots to Fly Aircraft in Army Units
Washington (AFPS)-The National Guard is looking for about 1000 pilots to fly aircraft assigned to Army units of the Guard.
Men eligible to apply to the Office of the Adjutant General in their respective states or territories include former officer pilots of the Armed Forces. civilians with or without flying experience who can qualify for NG commissions, and qualified members of NG units assigned to Army aviation.
Successful candidates will be assigned for basic flying training with the USAF at Gary AFB, Tex., and for advanced tactical training at Ft. Sill. Okla. Upon graduation they will be rated as Army Aviators and placed on a flying status as pilot officers with NG Army units. Part or all of the basic course may be waived for trainees with previous flying experience, at the discretion of the USAF.
Candidates for helicopter pilot vacancies must complete the regular aviation course before becoming eligible for 'copter training.
(By Armed Forces Press Service)
Kitty: "When I'm down in the dumps, I always get a new hat."
Katty: "I wondered where you got them!"
* * *
The little doughnut said to the pompous layer cake: If I had your dough I wouldn't be hanging around this hole!
"Does your *hu*sba*nd talk in his
sleep?" "No, the stinker just grins."
* * *
"Did you give the major my note?"
"Yeah, but it won't do no good. He's blind as a bat."
"How's that?" "Well, he asked me twice where my hat was and I was wearing it all the time."
NOVEMBER, 1953

Test Pilots Find
MIG-15 Inferior
To US Sabrejet
Tokyo, Japan (AFPS)-
American test pilots don't like the Mid:. Specialists and test pilots from Wright-Patterson
AFB, Ohio, have been testing one on Okinawa. It is the same jet fighter flown into U.S. possession by North Korean Lt. Noh Kuen Suk. The test pilots agree that the enemy jet is inferior to the U.S. Sabre.
The plane was dismantled at the Kimpo AB near Seoul and carried by air transport to Okinawa. It was reassembled there and tested in a short, low-altitude flight Sept. 28.
Among the test pilots have been Maj. Gen. Albert Boyd, USAF, commander of the Wright-Patterson Development Center. and Maj. Charles Yeager, USAF, the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound.
According to Gen. Otto P. Weyland. USAF, Far East Air Forces commander, "a great deal of valuable information was obtained which will enable our pilots to devise tactics to better exploit the F-86's advantages over the MIG if ever they have to fight again."
Here are some of the test pilot's observations:
The MIG lacks automatic equipment and controls, so thali the pilot is kept too busy and has his attention diverted from alert flying. It has a lower maximum speed than the Sabre. There's insufficient "stall warning." The cockpit is tlo small, and its heating and -ventilating systems are poor.
On a lighter note, investigation revealed a North Korean sign painted in red just beneath the gunsight platform. It was translated as: "Pour out and zero in this vindicative ammunition to these accursed Yankees."
Washington (AFPS) -According to an Air Force official, Lt. Noh Kuen Suk, the North Korean pilot who delivered his MIG to American forces, is planning to enter college in the U.S. The $100,000 reward will be set up in a scholarship-trust fund. The pilot's choice of universities has not been made known.

Red Cross Revises Frostbite Treatment, Use of Tourniquets
Washington (AFPS) - Major changes in first aid for frostbite and the use of tourniquets have been announced by the American Red Cross in a new supplement to the Red Cross first aid textbook.
The Red Cross now advises rapid warming of frostbitten parts of persons who have suffered prolonged exposure to cold. Previously first aiders were told to thaw out a frozen part gradually in cool water or in a cool room.
Recommended care now is to bring the victim into a warm room and warm the frozen part rapidly in a tub of warmnot hot-water or with warm blankets.
Major changes in tourniquet use call for applying it close to the wound and allowing it to remain in position until released by a physician. It should be used only for life-threatening hemorrhage which cannot be controlled by other means, the supplement stresses.
The changes were adopted on the basis of recommendations of the Committee on Surgery, Division of Medical Sciences, National Research Council.
The Army, at a cost of about $1,800,000,000, has recovered and rebuilt material worth $13,600,000,000 since World War II.
REAR RANK
"I'm supposed to borrow 300 cups of sugar for Co. 'D'I"
11

THE GEORGIA GUARDSMAN----------------------------------------------~-------------------

Btry D, lOlst AAA,
Pride of Waynesboro
One of the most active units of the Georgia National Guard IS Capt. Paul Stone's Battery D, l01st AAA Gun Bn, Waynesboro.
At least that appears to be the case judging from the wealth of news coverage contained in the Waynesboro True Citizen regarding the activities of the Battery. Lt. W. F. Story writes a weekly story on the unit that indicates morale within the battery is soaring.
In the past months Btry D has sponsored the Tex Beneke band at a dance to raise funds for a municipal swimming pool. This month they are sponsoring Johnny Long's Band. In May they led the
Memorial Day parade in Waynesboro and cooperated in canvassing the city for additional funds for construction of the pool.
Activity at summer camp resulted in the publication of the entire battery's group picture in the newspaper. PFC Arthur Knight was presented a new fountain pen as an award for being selected as the most outstanding private at summer camp.
Conducting military funerals, exhibiting displays and participating in many community projects has contributed to the fine reputation the unit has in Waynesboro. 13try D gave their NCO's a party at McKinney's pond in recognition and appreciation for their accomplishments at camp, and a barbecue supper and dance took place in August.
In one of Lt. Story's articles he mentioned the names of the members of the battery who were praised by Capt. Stone for having a perfect attendance record during the preceding quarter. Reading on and between the lines, it looks like Capt. Stone has his eye on the Eisenhower Trophy for next year. Judging from the above methods of increasing the prestige and morale of his unit, Capt. Stone is certainly on the right track to win that particular award.

COL C.M. FORD, JR
CD WELFARE OFF.
Col. Charles l\1. Ford, Jr., recently returned from active duty, has been named Atlanta's civil defense emergency welfare officer. As commander of the ll6th Air Service Group, Col. Ford went into federal service with the 54th Fighter Wing m October 1950.
Col. Ford will assist in the plans, policies, procedures and functions of emergency mass care -- including housing, feeding, clothing registration and information, evacuation and special services.
A veteran of the Korean War, Col. Ford served as group commander of the 3rd Bomb Wing and as assistant inspector general, 5th Air Force. lle flew 86 support miss ions totaling approximately 103 hours. He is now assigned as excess officer with llq, Ga Air National Guard.
Col. Charles M. Ford, Jr.
Lt. Andrew J. Phill ips, IIq 560th Engr Bn, Columbus, is attending the Engr Off Basic Course at Ft. Belvoir, Va. The course ends 12 Dec 53.
Pvt Thomas C. Sanders, H/S Co, 560th Engr Lln, Columbus, attended the Engr Equip !VIaint Course at Ft. Belvoir 19 Aug-10 Oct 53.

GaANG Pilot Twice
Breaks Sonic Barrier
One of our Georgia Air National Guard's jet pilots twice has broken the sonic barrier. Flying an F -860 Sabrejet with after-burner, Lt. Jack T. Pierce, 29 l28th Fighter Squadron, attained Mach 1 before he was released from the Regular Air Force.
His memorable flight took place when he ''went up to 46,000 feet" and dived through the barrier, dived again and duplicated the feat. On both occasions he experienced intense vibrations in the jet with a tendency for a wing to get "heavy" as the plane approached the speed of sound. At .97 l\lach the jet began to act up, he said, but smoothed out beyond the barrier and got rough again as he reduced his throttle setting and came back through.
(Mach 1 is the term given the speed of sound at any altitude 760 mph at sea level and only 662 mph at 35,000 feet. The term Mach was derived from the name
of the late German scientist Or.
Ernst Mach, who evolved a system of computation for high velocity projectiles. At supersonic speed an aircraft is going faster than a bullet fired from a .45 calibre pistol.)
Lt. Pierce says he experienced a reversal of control forces beyond the barrier. The l28th's F-84 Thunderjets are not normally capable of breaking the barrier even in a dive. The new North American F-100 is reportedly able to pierce the barrier m level flight.
Airman/3C Walter C. Broome, Jr., and Hamon L. Jones, Hq ll6th Air Base Gp, are attending the aircraft Mechanic Transport Course at Sheppard AFD, Texas, which began 15 Sept and ends upon completion of 135 academic days.

12

NOVEMBER, 1953

122ND INFANTRY REGIMENT
COAT OF ARMS
The Coat of Arms of the 122nd. Infantry is a Red and Blue Shield, the red indicating descent from Artillery and blue representing the unit's assignment to Infantry. The crossed gray bars of the Confederacy represents participation by the Regiment, through one of its units, the Gate City Guard and Marietta RiAes, in the War Between the States. The Cactus Plant represents participation by this Regiment in. the Border Service. The outbreak of World War I found this Regiment already equipped from service on the Mexican Border and ready to be mustered into the service of the United States, where it became a part of the Dixie Diyision. This service during
World War J. is. indicated on the <:;oat of Arms by the insignia of the
Dixie Division.
GEORGIA NATIO"AL. GUARD

Ac qu i s itions Division The Un i ver s ity of Georgia Li br aries The University of Georgia At hens , Georgi a
HELP BUILD YOUR UNIT UP TO FULL STRENGTH

What is the National Guard?

The National Guard is a volunteer organization of citizen-soldiers with one or more units right here in your home town. It is a military organization but its members are civilians. They are local citizens Who go
to school or work-in offices . .. ih factories ... in
stores ... in banks . . . on farms. But whatever their civilian occupation they give a part of their time, every week, to train in defense of their community -and country.
The National Guard is actually older than our nation. The young men of the early colonies organized into units and trained to defend their settlements. Many of our present day National Guard units began with those early groups of citizen-soldiers. An example is the 182nd Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard which has been in contin uous existence since 1636 when it was organized as the Middlesex County Regiment.
As our country grew, the National G uard grewas towns sprang up and States were added to the Union, additional Guard units came into being-for local and national protection. Today, there are more than 5,500 Guard units in more than 2200 commu -

nities. They are located in every one of the 48 States and in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
At the head of your National Guard is the Governor of your State. Your local unit is commanded by on outstanding officer who lives and works at his civilian job right here in your community, as do the other officers, non-commissioned officers and men of your unit. Only in time of grave emergency, when our country is attacked or our safety is threatened, does your local Guard leave home for active military service .